Top 10 SUVs in India with BNCAP 5 star safety rating

The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP), introduced in 2023, scores passenger vehicles on a scale of 1 to 5 stars based on crash safety. Listed below are the top 10 SUVs currently in production that have secured a full 5-star rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests, along with their adult and child occupant protection scores. Note that these models are ranked in ascending order of adult protection scores, with the top spot held jointly.

10. Tata Curvv EV

Adult safety: 30.81/32, child safety: 44.83/49

Starting this list is the Tata Curvv EV, and in the Indian carmaker’s current electric vehicle portfolio, the coupe SUV is positioned above the Nexon EV (not on this list). As for safety features, the Curvv EV packs 6 airbags, ESP and all-wheel disc brakes as standard. However, just the range-topping Curvv EV Empowered+ A trim is offered with a Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) suite.

9. Skoda Kylaq

Adult safety: 30.88/32, child safety: 45/49

The Skoda Kylaq is the carmaker’s only model tested by the Bharat NCAP yet, and it rivals the likes of compact SUVs such as the Kia Syros, Hyundai Venue and Maruti Brezza, among others. As standard, the Skoda SUV comes with 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors for rear seats. A 360-degree camera setup and an ADAS suite are not offered.

8. Mahindra Thar Roxx

Adult safety: 31.09/32, child safety: 45/49

The Thar Roxx is built on Mahindra’s fourth-generation (4G) body-on-frame chassis, and its body structure has been strengthened and stiffened with extra welding for better safety. The off-roader features 6 airbags, ISOFIX child-seat anchor points, 3-point seatbelts with reminders and ESC throughout the range, but a Level 2 ADAS suite is offered only on the AX5L and AX7L trims.

7. Tata Sierra

Adult safety: 31.14/32, child safety: 44.73/49

The Tata Sierra is one of the latest models to be crash-tested by BNCAP. The Sierra is underpinned by Tata’s new ARGOS architecture. As standard, this midsize SUV comes with 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX seat anchors. Higher trims even get a 360-degree camera and Level 2 ADAS.

6. Hyundai Venue

Adult safety: 31.15/32, child safety: 44.46/49

The Hyundai Venue is the brand’s second model to be crash-tested by Bharat NCAP; the now-discontinued Tucson was the first. Underpinning the new-generation Venue is the global K1 platform, which is shared with the Kia Syros. A total of 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, hill-start assist and ESC are offered across variants, but a Level 2 ADAS suite is exclusive to the top-spec HX10 variant.

5. Maruti e Vitara

Adult safety: 31.49/32, child safety: 43/49

The Maruti e Vitara is the brand’s first electric vehicle, and it offers 7 airbags, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, ESP, ABS with EBD and hill-hold control as standard. The top e Vitara Alpha variant adds a 360-degree camera and a Level 2 ADAS suite. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella is the e Vitara’s badge-engineered sibling, but its crash-test scores have not yet been revealed.

4. Maruti Victoris

Adult safety: 31.66/32, child safety: 43/49

Maruti’s second attempt at the midsize SUV space after the Grand Vitara, the Victoris offers 6 airbags, 3-point seat belts with reminders for all passengers, ESC and ISOFIX anchors for rear outboard seats across variants. Top-spec trims even get a Level 2 ADAS suite. It has even received a full 5-star safety rating from the Global NCAP.

3. Kia Seltos

Adult safety: 31.7/32, child safety: 45/49

At the time of writing, the Kia Seltos is the most recent model to undergo Bharat NCAP crash testing, and it holds the highest adult occupant protection score among all ICE vehicles tested so far. Underpinned by the new K3 platform, the second-generation midsize SUV offers 6 airbags, ABS, all-wheel disc brakes and TPMS as standard. Seltos variants such as HTX (A) and GTX (A) come equipped with a Level 2 ADAS suite.

2. Mahindra BE 6 

Adult safety: 31.97/32, child safety: 45/49

At number two on this list is the Mahindra BE 6, which takes on midsize electric SUVs such as the Maruti e Vitara, Toyota Ebella and Hyundai Creta Electric, among others. As standard, the BE 6 (formerly BE 6e) comes equipped with features like 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, brake-by-wire technology and TPMS. Top trims get 7 airbags and a Level 2 ADAS suite with 5 radars and a camera.

1. Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e (joint)

Adult safety: 32/32, child safety: 45/49

Tata Harrier EV.

The Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e, popular EVs of two homegrown auto majors, share the highest child and adult occupant protection scores in the Bharat NCAP crash tests.

Mahindra XEV 9e.

These electric SUVs come with safety features like 6 airbags, disc brakes for all wheels, ISOFIX anchors, a rear camera and TPMS as standard. While a Level 2 ADAS suite is exclusive to the Empowered variant of the Harrier EV, the XEV 9e offers it in Pack Two and Pack Three variants.